Technology and Innovation

Length: Two Years

Three Industry Secondments

Closing Date: 14 January 2024
Start Date: September 2024

2024 Applications Opening Soon

Technology and Innovation

Programme Overview

Say hello to the NDA group graduate programme

We’re the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, delivering one of the world’s most important environmental programmes to decommission the UK’s earliest nuclear facilities.

Our group is responsible for 17 nuclear sites in all parts of the UK, together with specialist nuclear waste and international transport businesses. And our work is growing, with more facilities joining us to be decommissioned in the next decade.

Sustainability, safety, and security are at the heart of our long-term mission to prepare our sites for their next use, work which spans into the next century.

As an NDA group graduate, you’ll get the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution towards the delivery of our nationally important mission. During our two-year graduate programme, you’ll take part in three placements in different parts of the NDA group. You’ll start with a 12-month placement, before completing two six-month opportunities. In exchange for your contribution, you’ll be supported at the end of the programme to secure a role in the NDA group.

Introduction to/overview of the discipline

​Technology and Innovation (T&I) is essential for us to transform delivery of our mission. Across the NDA group we invest around £100 million each year in T&I to help us understand the challenges we face, underpin the solutions we develop to ensure they will be successful when deployed and, through innovation, transform how we decommission safely, securely, sustainably, creatively and deliver value.

T&I includes fundamental research to develop our strategy, innovative approaches and support deployment and transfer across our group and technical assurance of performance. It also includes our university research portfolio where we’re developing skills and subject matter experts for the future.

Collaboration is key and we work across the NDA group as well as with other sectors (e.g. defence, oil and gas, construction) and internationally. Communication is important in sharing our challenges, progress and collaboration opportunities to ensure we maximise opportunity and avoid duplication. Our stakeholders are diverse and the appetite for T&I is high. We’re focused on building partnerships for the future in key areas (including robotics and artificial intelligence), growing our international collaborations and creating an environment where innovation can thrive in all aspects of what we do.  ​

The opportunities

  • ​Project management: Support delivery of the T&I portfolio to ensure all our activities and collaborations are clearly defined and managed. Helping set up our innovation change programme, supporting the programme delivery team which would include working across programme and project management, interfacing with finance, HR, procurement and T&I links across the NDA group.
  • Innovation delivery: Support delivery of the innovation portfolio and our cross-sector collaborations with defence. Support scoping, placing and management of key innovation competitions in areas such as robotics and remote technology. ​

Throughout your two-year journey on the NDA group graduate programme you will be employed by Energus whilst being supported by an industry leading sponsoring organisation.

At the end of your two-year programme, you will be supported in securing a role with the NDA group.

Key Programme Details
Closing Date:
14 January 2024
Entry Requirements:
Minimum of a 2:2 in a relevant degree subject, achieved within the last 5 years
Programme Length: Two Years

Discipline Sponsors

Established in 2007 by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the Nuclear Graduates programme was created to develop the next generation of young professionals for the nuclear sector.

There has never been a more exciting time to join the UK’s nuclear sector. With new technologies, systems and processes, requiring new ideas to drive the challenges at the heart of the sector including decommissioning, new build and the contribution to the energy security strategy.

Nuclear Graduates is sponsored by prominent employers across the nuclear sector. Our partner employers will support you throughout the two-year programme, initially in your first secondment then as you progress through your two years, playing an active role in your development as we advance the workforce of the future.

Your sponsor will vary depending on the role you’ve applied for.

NDA_final_logo_Black EDIT
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Key Programme Details
Closing Date:
14 January 2024
Entry Requirements:
Minimum of a 2:2 in a relevant degree subject, achieved within the last 5 years
Programme Length: Two Years

Our Sponsors

Pay & Benefits

Remarkably different to other graduate programmes, the NDA group graduate programme offers you a unique opportunity to design your own development programme. A bespoke two-year plan, devised with the help of your own personal, professional mentor will allow you to develop both your technical and behavioural capabilities.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have developed an attractive package of support that reflects your, and the NDA’s ambitions for your development as a nuclear professional.

In addition to the world-class training and development on offer, the NDA group graduate programme can also look forward to:

  • Salary £30,000 per year
  • £5,500 individual travel budget
  • £3,500 flexible individual training budget
  • £9,900 core training & development
  • Access to three secondments (12 months, and two 6 months) across the NDA group to give you experience across the breadth of the NDA.
  • A dedicated team of experts to support your development and progress throughout your time on the programme
  • Your NDA sponsor will provide you with day-to-day support during your programme and with your secondments
  • A dedicated mentor, assigned to you upon starting the programme who will stay with you throughout your NDA group graduate journey
  • A comprehensive, tailored programme of professional development
  • The support of a dedicated NDA group graduate programme team throughout the two years of your graduate programme. As Mental Health First Aiders the team are fully equipped to assist you through your NDA journey
  • 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
  • 6 discretionary days leave for study and relocation
  • Energus contributory pension scheme
  • Energus Employee Assistance Programme and DigiCare+
  • EnergUS Extras, providing in-house news, well-being resources and employee discounts
  • Membership of up to 2 professional institutions
  • Access to an independent Employee Assistance Programme service offering a 24/7 support line
  • Opportunity to participate in our Cycle2Work Scheme

 

Total Two-Year Package: £78,900

Key Programme Details
Closing Date:
14 January 2024
Entry Requirements:
Minimum of a 2:2 in a relevant degree subject, achieved within the last 5 years
Programme Length: Two Years

Pathways & Footprints

In between secondments your cohort will come together for training and development sessions. These pathways will focus on developing both your technical and behavioural competencies, these include.

  • Induction to the Nuclear Industry
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Adaptability / flexibility
  • Business Awareness
  • Leadership
  • Problem Solving

 

These are critical skills needed by the nuclear sector and will help you to develop your knowledge, skills and experience alongside your fellow Nuclear Graduates.

Footprints

Footprints is our corporate social responsibility programme that sits at the heart of the Nuclear Graduates programme. During your two years, 10% of your total time on the programme will be dedicated to Footprints activity.

During this time you will become a Science Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) ambassador, passing your knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation. You will also have the opportunity, as part of a cohort of Nuclear Graduates, to undertake a footprint that will drive your understanding of the sector at a community level. This could be within the UK or an international opportunity that you will develop.

Footprints is your chance to affect real change in the real world, allowing you to engage with and understand the communities we work in and with. This is a platform for you to demonstrate the skills you have acquired, develop your understanding and gain experiences that are unique to the Nuclear Graduates programme.

Key Programme Details
Closing Date:
14 January 2024
Entry Requirements:
Minimum of a 2:2 in a relevant degree subject, achieved within the last 5 years
Programme Length: Two Years

CPD Opportunities

Throughout your two years, you will have the opportunity to carry out additional Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training. These vary depending on your chosen discipline and your sponsor.

In addition, depending on the role you apply for, you may be eligible to work toward a chartership status with an appropriate institution

Key Programme Details
Closing Date:
14 January 2024
Entry Requirements:
Minimum of a 2:2 in a relevant degree subject, achieved within the last 5 years
Programme Length: Two Years